diff --git a/simgear/canvas/layout/SpacerItem.hxx b/simgear/canvas/layout/SpacerItem.hxx
index 8e5346d8..1f57bb1a 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/layout/SpacerItem.hxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/layout/SpacerItem.hxx
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace canvas
 
   };
 
+using SpacerItemRef = SGSharedPtr<SpacerItem> ;
+
 } // namespace canvas
 } // namespace simgear